Brooks, Venditto tied in 8th District senate race

Democrat Brooks leading by 33 votes

The race in the 8th Senatorial District has come down to a mere 33 votes, according to the lastest numbers from the Nassau and Suffolk County Boards of Elections.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Michael Venditto currently holds 64,466 votes to Brooks's 64,499, between the two counties.

According to election officials, the results remain unofficial until all absentee ballots and voter affidavits are counted, which could take until Nov. 15.

The Brooks for State Senate Facebook page declared victory for Brooks on Nov. 9, reading, "We did it! Thank you for entrusting me with the task of being your next state Senator."

Lisa Tyson, president of the Long Island Progressive Coalition, said that she believes the election's final results will favor Brooks.

"I hear that [33 votes] is how it is. I think he has a good chance of keeping that lead or expanding that lead after all the absentee ballots are counted," she said.

Brooks has told the Herald in the past that he’s running for the State Senate to fix aspects in the government that, in his view, are broken.

Venditto was elected to the State Senate in 2014 and said he hopes to give all New Yorkers the opportunity to succeed.

Traditionally, Republicans have won the 8th District with more than 60 percent of the vote. This year however, Venditto's father John, who is also the Oyster Bay town supervisor, is facing federal corruption charges, along with county executive Ed Mangano and Mangano's wife Linda.

All three have pleaded not guilty.

Representatives for Brooks and Venditto could not immediately be reached for comment.

The 8th Senate District includes all or parts of Baldwin, Bellmore, Freeport, Merrick, Seaford, and Wantagh.